Five-ranked Bog-moss

Sphagnum quinquefarium

Sphagnum quinquefarium, the five-ranked bog-moss, is a species of peat moss belonging to the family Sphagnaceae. It is characterised by its distinctive five-ranked leaf arrangement and three spreading branches per fascicle. It typically grows in loose, upright formations in damp, shaded woodlands rather than in peatlands, preferring areas with high atmospheric humidity. The medium-sized moss has a pale green to yellowish-green colouring, often marked with pink or red patches, and can be distinguished from similar species by its prismatic branch appearance and parallel-sided stem leaves. Found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, it is most abundant in oceanic and sub-oceanic regions, particularly in northwestern Europe and the Carpathian Mountains, with populations also occurring in eastern Asia and coastal North America. While commonly hybridising with S. capillifolium in areas where their ranges overlap, the species maintains its distinctness through different habitat preferences. Conservation status varies significantly across its range, from being common in some regions to vulnerable and legally protected in others, such as Hungary.

Scientific name

Sphagnum quinquefarium

Family

Sphagnaceae